Web of multipart tickets and method of making and using same

ABSTRACT

There are disclosed two embodiments of the invention relating to a web of multipart tickets capable of use in a high speed printer. The tickets are shown to be bounded by parallel lines of heavy partial severing and the parts of each ticket which extend in a transverse direction in the web are formed by lines of light parallel severing. Feed strips are provided at each margin of the web and each feed strip contains feed holes which are capable of being engaged by a conventional sprocket or tractor feed mechanism of a high speed printer. The part of each multipart ticket which is to be attached directly to the merchandise contains an aperture to facilitate attachment to the merchandise. Also disclosed is a method of making and using a web of multipart tickets.

[151 3,703,044 [451 Nov. 21, 19 72 United States Patent Gregory [54] WEB OF MULTIPART TICKETS AND 572,108 3/1959 Canada............................40/2

METHOD OF MAKING AND USING SAME Primary ExaminerRobert W. Michell [72] Inventor:

Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras Attorney-Joseph J. Grass Walter D. Gregory, Dayton, Ohio Assignee: The Monarch Marking System Company, Dayton, Ohio ABSTRACT There are disclosed two embodiments of the invention relating to a web of multipart tickets capable of use in a high speed printer. The tickets are shown to be bounded by parallel lines of heavy partial severing and theparts of each ticket which extend in a transverse direction in the web are formed by lines of light parallel severing. Feed strips are provided at each margin of the web and each feed strip contains feed holes 20A WN l NW 7 nu 9 mum .l mu ,0 m m n 7 mu "H" n 5 mm H b UM J ma n we 0 NS N l 10 d M. d c S .l D. M.@ W1 A UIF .1 .l 1]] 2 1.. 2.1. 2 2 555 l. ..I [ll which are capable of being engaged by a conventional References cued sprocket or tractor feed mechanism of a high speed UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1937 Fox Weiss printer. The part of each multipart ticket which is to be attached directly to the merchandise contains an 2,095,437 aperture to facilitate attachment to the merchandise. 2.096.153 10/1937 R X Also disclosed is a method of making and using a web 2,246,365 6/1941 Kohnle.....................40/2 R X f multipart i k 3,333,688 8/1967 Green ....206/56 A 12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 509,083 1/1955 Canada........................40/2X PATENTEDnuv 21 m2 FIG-2 Y T N A n R A W WEB OF MULTIPART TICKETS AND METHOD OI MAKING AND USING SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the art of tickets or tags and to methods of making and using the same.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art In a prior development owned by the assignee of the present application there was provided a web of single part tickets having feed strips at its side margins. Each ticket in the web was provided with parallel lines of heavy partial severing extending longitudinally of the web and parallel lines of heavy partial severing extending transversely across the entire web including the feed strip. Feed holes in the feed strip were placed at equally spaced apart intervals but some of the transverse lines of heavy partial severing intersected the feed holes. There was a diamond shaped aperture at the intersection of all the intersecting lines of the lines of heavy partial severing. Each part of each ticket contained an aperture by which the tag could be attached to merchandise, and all the tags in the web contained the same information.

Copending US. patent applications, Ser. No. 60,0l3 filed July 31, 1970 and Ser. No. 60,014 filed July 31, 1970 disclose prior developments of Walter D. Gregory et al.

Prior art examples of webs of multipart tickets or tags are disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 2,252,384, 2,692,083, 2,696,991, 3,416,787 and 3,546,798.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is specifically directed to multipart tickets (also known as tags) on which data are capable of being printed in a high speed printer. The web extends in a longitudinal direction and can be of any desired length. The parts of the ticket extend only in a transverse direction or row across the longitudinally extending web. The web is provided at each margin at a short distance from its side edges with longitudinally extending lines of heavy partial severing preferably in the form of long spaced apart cuts providing feed strips at the sides of the web. Spaced apart feed holes are cut in the fed strips. Spaced apart longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing preferably in the form of long spaced apart cuts are made in the web between the longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing at the margins. Spaced apart transverse lines of heavy partial severing preferably in the form of long spaced apart cuts are made to extend across, and preferably entirely across, the web even through the feed strips. The feed holes are disposed between the lines of heavy partial severing in the feed strips. The parts of the tickets are made by lines of light partial severing preferably in the form of short spaced apart cuts which extend only in the longitudinal direction between two adjacent longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing. At least one longitudinal line of light partial severing is made between two adjacent longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing, de-

provided with an aperture, by means of which the ticket can be attached to merchandise with a conventional fastener. In use the part of the ticket with the aperture remains attached to merchandise which the customer has purchased. A hole or aperture is cut at the intersection of each of the lines of heavy partial severing but there is an absence of any aperture at the intersection of any line of light partial severing and any intersecting line of heavy partial severing. In use, the web is inserted'into a high speed printer which prints data in lines which extend transversely across the web. It is preferred to print the same data on each part of each ticket across the web. After the tickets have been printed they can be readily separated from the web and applied to merchandise. In addition to being easier to separate a ticket from the web than it is to separate one part of a ticket from another part of a ticket, these apertures further facilitate separation of the. tickets from the web without causing the accidental separation of the ticket parts. Typically one of the parts is removed for inventory control or a variety of other purposes at the checkout counter, and that part of the ticket containing the aperture and the above-mentioned information and data remains on the merchandise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a web of tickets in accordance with one specific embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of one side of a fragmentary portion of the web shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the other side of the fragmentary portion of the web shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing one of the tickets attached to merchandise and showing one of the parts of the ticket being detached by tearing it from the other part; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 2, but on a smaller scale and showing a ticket having three parts instead of two parts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4 and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a web 10 of multipart tickets constructed using ticket stock material. The web is preferably stacked in a fanfold arrangement so that it can be easily fed through a high speed printer (not shown) capable of printing successive lines of data such as price, size, inventory numbers and the like on the web 10. The web 10 is made with longitudinally extending lines of heavy partial severing 11 and 12. at the side margins of the web a short distance from the respective side edges 13 and 14. The portion of the web 10 between the line of heavy partial severing 11 and the side edge 13, and the portion of the web 10 between the line of heavy partial severing 12 and the side edge 14 provide respective feed strips 15 and 16 by means of which the web 10 can be fed through the printer by means of its conventional sprocket or tractor mechanism (not shown). Spaced between and parallel to the longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing 11 and 12 are additional lines of heavy partial severing 17, 18 and 19. Spaced between the lines of heavy partial severing 11 and 17, 17 and 18, 18 and 19, and 19 and 12 are respective longitudinally extending lines of light partial severing 20, 21, 22 and 23.

I Transverse lines of heavy partial severing 24 extend across the web 10. The portion of the web between two adjacent longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing and between two adjacent transverse lines of heavy partial severing provide the bounds of each ticket T.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4 each ticket or tag T has two parts P1 and P2. The parts P1 and P2 are connected by a longitudinal line of light partial severing. It is apparent that there is one line of light partial severing between every adjacent two lines of heavy partial severing in the transverse direction across the web 10. More specifically it is preferred to have ticket parts P1 and P2 of equal width inasmuch as the information or data printed by the high speed printer on part P1 is also printed by the high speed printer on part P2 and occupies the same transverse width. In addition, it is preferred to space the lines of heavy partial severing 24 equally apart so that all the tickets T in the web are of the same length. If desired the wide dimension of the tickets T can be in a transverse direction across the web 10 rather than in a longitudinal direction as illustrated in the drawings. Accordingly, it is preferred to have the longitudinal line of light partial severing 20 midway between the adjacent lines of heavy partial severing 11 and 17, to have the longitudinal line of light partial severing 21 midway between the adjacent lines of heavy partial severing l7 and 18, and so on across the web.

The transverse lines of heavy partial severing 24 preferably extend all the way across the web 10 including the feed strips 15 and 16. Feed-holes 25 are cut in the feed strips 15 and 16 between the lines of heavy partial severing 24 in the feed strips 15 and 16. By spacing the feed holes 25 from the lines of heavy partial severing 24 undue weakening of the feed strips 15 and 16 is obviated. It is preferred to dispose the feed holes 25 in the feed strips 15 and 16 at equally spaced apart intervals. The long, closely spaced apart, knife cuts forming the lines of heavy partial severing are designated C1 in the drawings, and short, closely spaced apart, knife cuts forming the lines of light partial severing are designated C2. 7

It is preferred to cut holes 26 at the intersections every longitudinal line of heavy partial severing and every intersecting transverse line of heavy partial severing, but there is no hole at the intersection of any longitudinal line of light partial severing and any intersecting transverse line of heavy partial severing, as clearly shown in the drawings.

It is apparent that the web can be fed into a high speed printer and data can be printed on each part of each ticket in a transverse row. Successive lines of data can be printed by advancing the web 10 by means of the advance of the sprocket or tractor feed mechanism (not shown) which engages the feed holes 25. The data printed by the printer in one transverse row can be changed from the preceding row by having the printer print different data. After one or more transverse rows of multipart tickets T have been printed, the printed tickets can be readily separated from the web 10, from each other, and from the feed strips and 16, by tearing along the lines of heavy partial severing l1, 17, 18, 19, 12 and 24. As the lines of light partial severing 21, 22 and 23 weaken the web 10 to a lesser degree than do the lines of heavy partial severing, the ticket parts P1 and P2 are not accidentally detached while the ticket T is attached to merchandise. In addition, the apertures 26 which are preferably diamond shaped provide a start for separating the tickets T from eachother, but inasmuch as there is no aperture whatever at the edge of the ticket T at the line of light partial severing, the parts P1 and P2 of the ticket T are not likely to be accidentally detached.

The part P1 of the ticket T is provided with an aperture or hole 27 by means of which the ticket T can be attached to merchandise. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the ticket T can be applied to merchandise M bymeans of a conventional plastic fastener F. The part P1 contains additional information 28 not contained on the part P2 such as a warranty, instruction as to washability of the fabric, and the like. The information 28 is of the type which preferably remains with the garment until after the user has left the store and provides the customer with a record of the transaction. The other part P2 is generally removed by a clerk at the checkout counter and can be used for inventory control, recording, or other purposes.

With reference to the embodiment of FIG. 5, there is 4 shown a fragmentary portion of a multipart ticket or tag web 10M. The tickets TM are identical to the tickets T in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4, except that the ticket TM has three parts PMl, PM2 and PM3. The tickets TM are made and used in exactly the same way as the tickets T with lines of heavy partial severing, 11M, 17M and so on and 24M, and lines of light partial severing 20M and so on, except the ticket TM has an additional part. The part PMl contains an aperture or hole 27M by which a ticket, which has been separated from the web 10M, can be attached to merchandise.

By way of specific example, not limitation, in the above described embodiments the web can be about 0.015 inch thick, the cuts for the lines of heavy partial severing can be about 0.203 inch in length with the cuts being about 0.078 inch apart, and the cuts for the lines of light partial severing can be about 0.028 inch in length with the cuts being about 0.031 inch apart.

Other embodiments and modifications of this invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and all such of these as come within the spirit of this invention are included within its scope as best defined by the appended claims.

I claim 1. A web of multipart tickets on which data is capable of being printed on a high speed printer, comprising: a web of ticket material, a line of heavy partial severing at each margin of the web but spaced apart from the respective side edge of the web to provide a pair of feed strips,spaced apart feed holes in each feed strip extending in a longitudinal direction, a plurality of spaced apart parallel lines of heavy partial severing extending in a longitudinal direction in the web between the lines of heavy partial severing at the margins of the web, at least one line of light partial severing extending longitudinally in the web between each of the longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing, a plurality of spaced apart parallel lines of heavy partial severing extending in a transverse direction in the web, each ticket being bounded by an adjacent pair of longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing and an adjacent pair of transverse lines of heavy partial severing, and an aperture at every intersection of two lines of heavy partial severing and the absence of any aperture at every intersection of a line of light partial severing and a line of heavy partial severing, the parts of the tickets being connected at the lines of light parallel severing to provide multipart tickets which can be readily separated from the feed strip and from the other multipart tickets in the web, but because of the stronger connection between the parts of each multipart ticket the parts remain in tack until torn apart at the line or lines of light partial severmg.

2. A web of multipart tickets as defined in claim 1, wherein the transverse lines of heavy partial severing extend entirely across the web including the feed strips, all the feed holes being disposed between the trans verse lines of heavy partial severing in the feed strips, only one part of each multipart ticket having an aperture by which the multipart ticket can be attached to merchandise, and the part having the aperture containing at least some information different from the information contained by the other part or parts.

3. A web of multipart tickets as defined in claim 1, wherein the apertures are diamond shaped.

4. A web of multipart tickets on which data is capable of being printed on a high speed printer, comprising: a web of ticket material, a line of heavy partial severing at each margin of the web but spaced apart from the respective side edge of the web to provide a pair of feed strips, spaced apart feed holes in each feed strip extending in a longitudinal direction, a plurality of spaced apart parallel lines of heavy partial severing extending in a longitudinal direction in the web between the lines of heavy partial severing at the margins of the web, at least one line of light partial severing extending longitudinally in the web between each of the longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing, and a plurality of spaced apart parallel lines of heavy partial severing extending in a transverse direction in the web, each ticket being bounded by an adjacent pair of longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing and an adjacent pair of transverse lines of heavy partial severing, the parts of the tickets being connected at the lines of light partial severing to provide multipart tickets which can be readily separated from the feed strip and the other multipart tickets in the web, but because of the stronger connection between the parts of each multipart ticket the parts remain in tact until torn apart at the line or lines of light partial severing.

5. A web of multipart tickets as defined in claim 4, wherein the transverse lines of heavy partial severing extend entirely across the web including the feed strips, and all the feed holes are disposed between the transverse lines of heavy partial severing in the feed strips.

6. A web of multipart tickets as defined in claim 4, wherein only one part of each multipart ticket has an aperture by which the multipart ticket can be attached to merchandise, and the part having the aperture contains at least some information different from the information contained by the other part or parts.

7. Method of making a web of multipart tickets on which data is capable of being printed on a high speed printer, comprising the steps of: providing a web of ticket material, making a line of heavy partial severing at each margin of the web but spaced apart from the respective side edge of the web to provide a pair of feed strips, cutting spaced apart feed holes in each feed strip extending in a longitudinal direction, making a plurality of spaced apart lines of heavy partial severing in a longitudinal direction in the web between the lines of heavy partial severing at the margins of the web, making at least one line of light partial severing extending longitudinally in the web between each of the longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing,making a plurality of spaced apart parallel lines of heavy partial severing extending in a transverse direction in the web, each ticket being bounded by an adjacent pair of longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing and an adjacent pair of transverse lines of heavy partial severing, and cutting an aperture at every intersection of two lines of heavy partial severing, but providing no aperture at the intersection of any line of light partial severing and any line of heavy partial severing, the parts of the tickets being connected at the lines of light partial severing to provide multipart tickets which can be readily separated from the feed strip and from the other multipart tickets in the web, but because of the stronger connection between the parts of each multipart ticket the parts remain in tact until torn apart at the line or lines of light partial severing.

8. Method of making a web of multipart tickets as defined in claim 7 and using the resultant web, further comprising the steps of: printing data on all the parts of all the tickets in a transverse row of multipart tickets, detaching the multipart tickets from the remainder of the web of multipart tickets, applying the multipart tickets to merchandise, and subsequently removing one part of the ticket from the remaining part or parts.

9. Method of making a web of multipart tickets as defined in claim 7 and using the resultant web, further comprising the steps of: printing data on all the parts of all the tickets in a transverse row of multipart tickets, and detaching the multipart tickets from the remainder of the web of multipart tickets.

10. Method of making a web of multipart tickets on which data is capable of being printed on a high speed printer, comprising the steps of: providing a web of ticket material, making a line of heavy partial severing at each margin of the web but spaced apart from the respective side edge of the web to provide a pair of feed strips, cutting spaced apart feed holes in each feed strip extending in a longitudinal direction, making a plurality of spaced apart lines of heavy partial severing in a longitudinal direction in the web between the lines of heavy partial severing at the margins of the web,making at least one line of light partial severing extending longitudinally in the web between each of the longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing, making a plurality of spaced apart parallel lines of heavy partial severing extending in a transverse direction in the web, each ticket being bounded by an adjacent pair of longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing and an adjacent pair of transverse lines of heavy partial severing, the parts of the tickets being connected at the lines of light partial severing to provide multipart tickets which can be the web of multipart tickets, applying the multipart tickets to merchandise, and subsequently removing one part of the ticket from the remaining part or parts.

12. Method of making a web of multipart tickets as defined in claim 10 and using the resultant web, further comprising the steps of: printing data on all the parts of all the tickets in a transverse row of multipart tickets, and detaching the multipart tickets from the remainder of the web of multipart tickets. 

1. A web of multipart tickets on which data is capable of being printed on a high speed printer, comprising: a web of ticket material, a line of heavy partial severing at each margin of the web but spaced apart from the respective side edge of the web to provide a pair of feed strips,spaced apart feed holes in each feed strip extending in a longitudinal direction, a plurality of spaced apart parallel lines of heavy partial severing extending in a longitudinal direction in the web between the lines of heavy partial severing at the margins of the web, at least one line of light partial severing extending longitudinally in the web between each of the longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing, a plurality of spaced apart parallel lines of heavy partial severing extending in a transverse direction in the web, each ticket being bounded by an adjacent pair of longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing and an adjacent pair of transverse lines of heavy partial severing, and an aperture at every intersection of two lines of heavy partial severing and the absence of any aperture at every intersection of a line of light partial severing and a line of heavy partial severing, the parts of the tickets being connected at the lines of light parallel severing to provide multipart tickets which can be readily separated from the feed strip and from the other multipart tickets in the web, but because of the stronger connection between the parts of each multipart ticket the parts remain in tack until torn apart at the line or lines of light partial severing.
 1. A web of multipart tickets on which data is capable of being printed on a high speed printer, comprising: a web of ticket material, a line of heavy partial severing at each margin of the web but spaced apart from the respective side edge of the web to provide a pair of feed strips,spaced apart feed holes in each feed strip extending in a longitudinal direction, a plurality of spaced apart parallel lines of heavy partial severing extending in a longitudinal direction in the web between the lines of heavy partial severing at the margins of the web, at least one line of light partial severing extending longitudinally in the web between each of the longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing, a plurality of spaced apart parallel lines of heavy partial severing extending in a transverse direction in the web, each ticket being bounded by an adjacent pair of longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing and an adjacent pair of transverse lines of heavy partial severing, and an aperture at every intersection of two lines of heavy partial severing and the absence of any aperture at every intersection of a line of light partial severing and a line of heavy partial severing, the parts of the tickets being connected at the lines of light parallel severing to provide multipart tickets which can be readily separated from the feed strip and from the other multipart tickets in the web, but because of the stronger connection between the parts of each multipart ticket the parts remain in tack until torn apart at the line or lines of light partial severing.
 2. A web of multipart tickets as defined in claim 1, wherein the transverse lines of heavy partial severing extend entirely across the web including the feed strips, all the feed holes being disposed between the transverse lines of heavy partial severing in the feed strips, only one part of each multipart ticket having an aperture by which the multipart ticket can be attached to merchandise, and the part having the aperture containing at Least some information different from the information contained by the other part or parts.
 3. A web of multipart tickets as defined in claim 1, wherein the apertures are diamond shaped.
 4. A web of multipart tickets on which data is capable of being printed on a high speed printer, comprising: a web of ticket material, a line of heavy partial severing at each margin of the web but spaced apart from the respective side edge of the web to provide a pair of feed strips, spaced apart feed holes in each feed strip extending in a longitudinal direction, a plurality of spaced apart parallel lines of heavy partial severing extending in a longitudinal direction in the web between the lines of heavy partial severing at the margins of the web, at least one line of light partial severing extending longitudinally in the web between each of the longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing, and a plurality of spaced apart parallel lines of heavy partial severing extending in a transverse direction in the web, each ticket being bounded by an adjacent pair of longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing and an adjacent pair of transverse lines of heavy partial severing, the parts of the tickets being connected at the lines of light partial severing to provide multipart tickets which can be readily separated from the feed strip and the other multipart tickets in the web, but because of the stronger connection between the parts of each multipart ticket the parts remain in tact until torn apart at the line or lines of light partial severing.
 5. A web of multipart tickets as defined in claim 4, wherein the transverse lines of heavy partial severing extend entirely across the web including the feed strips, and all the feed holes are disposed between the transverse lines of heavy partial severing in the feed strips.
 6. A web of multipart tickets as defined in claim 4, wherein only one part of each multipart ticket has an aperture by which the multipart ticket can be attached to merchandise, and the part having the aperture contains at least some information different from the information contained by the other part or parts.
 7. Method of making a web of multipart tickets on which data is capable of being printed on a high speed printer, comprising the steps of: providing a web of ticket material, making a line of heavy partial severing at each margin of the web but spaced apart from the respective side edge of the web to provide a pair of feed strips, cutting spaced apart feed holes in each feed strip extending in a longitudinal direction, making a plurality of spaced apart lines of heavy partial severing in a longitudinal direction in the web between the lines of heavy partial severing at the margins of the web, making at least one line of light partial severing extending longitudinally in the web between each of the longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing, making a plurality of spaced apart parallel lines of heavy partial severing extending in a transverse direction in the web, each ticket being bounded by an adjacent pair of longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing and an adjacent pair of transverse lines of heavy partial severing, and cutting an aperture at every intersection of two lines of heavy partial severing, but providing no aperture at the intersection of any line of light partial severing and any line of heavy partial severing, the parts of the tickets being connected at the lines of light partial severing to provide multipart tickets which can be readily separated from the feed strip and from the other multipart tickets in the web, but because of the stronger connection between the parts of each multipart ticket the parts remain in tact until torn apart at the line or lines of light partial severing.
 8. Method of making a web of multipart tickets as defined in claim 7 and using the resultant web, further comprising the steps of: printing data on all the parts of all the tickets in a transverse row of multipart tickets, detaching the multipart ticketS from the remainder of the web of multipart tickets, applying the multipart tickets to merchandise, and subsequently removing one part of the ticket from the remaining part or parts.
 9. Method of making a web of multipart tickets as defined in claim 7 and using the resultant web, further comprising the steps of: printing data on all the parts of all the tickets in a transverse row of multipart tickets, and detaching the multipart tickets from the remainder of the web of multipart tickets.
 10. Method of making a web of multipart tickets on which data is capable of being printed on a high speed printer, comprising the steps of: providing a web of ticket material, making a line of heavy partial severing at each margin of the web but spaced apart from the respective side edge of the web to provide a pair of feed strips, cutting spaced apart feed holes in each feed strip extending in a longitudinal direction, making a plurality of spaced apart lines of heavy partial severing in a longitudinal direction in the web between the lines of heavy partial severing at the margins of the web,making at least one line of light partial severing extending longitudinally in the web between each of the longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing, making a plurality of spaced apart parallel lines of heavy partial severing extending in a transverse direction in the web, each ticket being bounded by an adjacent pair of longitudinal lines of heavy partial severing and an adjacent pair of transverse lines of heavy partial severing, the parts of the tickets being connected at the lines of light partial severing to provide multipart tickets which can be readily separated from the feed strip and from the other multipart tickets in the web, but because of the stronger connection between the parts of each multipart ticket the parts remain in tact until torn apart at the line or lines of light partial severing.
 11. Method of making a web of multipart tickets as defined in claim 10 and using the resultant web, further comprising the steps of: printing data on all the parts of all the tickets in a transverse row of multipart tickets, detaching the multipart tickets from the remainder of the web of multipart tickets, applying the multipart tickets to merchandise, and subsequently removing one part of the ticket from the remaining part or parts. 